Double Glazed windows are relatively simple things made up of a variety of complex decisions.
On this page, we are going to demystify the process so that you can select the ideal replacement windows for your project. Don’t forget you will have the help of a design expert to advise you throughout the process. We will take a look at the materials used to manufacture replacement windows, the different types and how UPVC timber joints are compared to standard welded joints.
Plus we will start to look at colours and different glass options, as you can see windows look simple yet have a myriad of choices to make before you end up with a replacement window schedule that is fit for your project.
If you want some specialist advice just click on one of the ‘Arrange a Home Visit‘ buttons (like the one below) and let one of our specialist designers guide you through the choices.
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Use the quick links below to go directly to one of the sections of this page
Materials
Types
Joints
Colours
Glass
Materials used in the manufacturing of Double Glazed Windows
Composite Doors
Available as a standard foam filled Composite Door or our premium Solid Core doors. The solid core door has all the benefit of a timber door without the need for painting. Strong, durable and available in many styles.
Click the button below to design your perfect front door
UPVC Doors
UPVC Doors are perfectly suited to front doors, back doors or side garage doors. Our Wood effect UPVC doors also have many styling aspects of traditional wooden doors but without the need for maintenance.
Our UPVC Doors are very secure and come with a high-security lock as standard.
Aluminium Doors
Aluminium doors have moved on from needing a hardwood surround, they are now very stylish and come thermally broken as standard. People tend to choose aluminium doors for slimmer frame detail and perceived additional security with the notion that a metal must be stronger than a UPVC.
Our aluminium doors are available in a wide choice of colours and styles.
Wooden Windows
Wooden windows are also available in Storm Casement and Flush Casement versions. People tend to choose wooden windows for traditional buildings and when under the constraints of planning permission.
As all coloured wooden windows are painted, there is a vast range of colour options available and you can match popular paint brands such as Farrow and Ball colours.
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Types of Replacement Windows Explained
Storm Casement Windows
The term Storm Casement comes from the fact that the windows close onto the frame with two seals, one to the outer edge of the frame and one to the inner edge of the frame.
Choose Storm casement if you live in a windy or exposed location. Storm casements make up the vast majority of UPVC replacement window sales and are therefore ideal for those who are shopping on a budget.
Expect to pay £1,600 – £1,900 for a UPVC Storm Casement window with an approx size of 180cm wide x 120 cm tall.
Flush Casement Windows
Flush Casement windows have matched glass sight lines, by that we mean from the outside it is not possible to determine which windows open just by looking for a change in glass height. Clean glass sightlines were typical of traditional wooden windows.
There is only one primary weather seal on flush casement windows so do not choose them if you live in an exposed location.
Expect to pay £2,100 – £2,400 for a Flush casement window with an approx size of 180cm wide x 120cm tall.
Vertical Sliding Sash Windows
Vertical Sliding Sash windows can be almost indistinguishable from their wooden counterparts, technology has evolved so much with these windows that they are now seen as a suitable replacement for wooden windows in conservation areas.
They are available in various sub-styles so they can easily be suited to match original windows and replace draughty timber sliding sash units.
Expect to pay £2,600 – £3,900 depending on the final specification for the window with an approx size of 180cm tall x 120 cm wide.
Secondary Double Glazed Windows
Secondary Double Glazing is typically used in listed buildings or areas strictly controlled by local planning laws. (Find out more about conservation areas here). Odly they are referred to as secondary double glazing but the units tend to be single glazed.
The secondary glazing sits behind the original windows and helps keep the heat in and noise out, they are a good alternative to replacement windows when the authorities will not permit them.
Expect to pay £600 – £850 for a secondary window similar with an approx size of 180cm wide x 120cm tall.
Replacement window material options commonly available
| Material | UPVC | Aluminium | Wooden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storm Casement | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Flush Casement | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Vertical Sliding Sash | Yes | Yes but rare | Yes |
| Secondary Double Glazing | No | Yes | Yes but rare |
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UPVC Window jointing Methods
Standard Welded Corners
Standard UPVC welded corners are common on UPVC replacement windows, the welds are formed by the extrusion (plastic) being heated and then the mitred corners are pushed together in a machine.
Welded corners are normally reliable, although some people find them unsightly they can be machined to leave a neat grove.
Coloured windows are a bit more tricky to present in a neat way as the external coloured foil is applied to the plastic before it is welded. This tends to bubble up and a raised section is always left behind.
Timber Style UPVC Corner Joints
Timber style UPVC joints (mechanical joints) are now becoming more reliable. In the early days of replacement window manufacturing the mechanical joints proved to be problematic as the joints would open up over time. Hence the original evolution to a welded corners.
As time has gone on, consumers are demanding a more aesthetically pleasing solution, which has forced manufacturers to engineer the timber style joint and move away from welded corners.
Timber style joints are now an added value option for UPVC storm casement and flush windows.
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Replacement Window Colour Choices
Replacement windows come in a wide variety of colours, the colour variations are far too numerous for one list, but below is an idea of the common colour options available.
It is worth remembering however that just about any window can be painted to suit your style and our dedicated advisors can help guide you through the many options available. It is also worth remembering that colour comes at a price, for instance, the standard white UPVC window is the lowest price point, add colour from there and it will be reflected in the price.
Standard White
Anthracite Grey
Chartwell Green
Agate Grey
Cream
Rosewood
Golden Oak
Irish Oak
Silver Grey
Pebble Grey
Slate Grey
Black
Above is just a very small selection of replacement window colour options, be sure to ask your advisor for more help with colour choices for your replacement windows.
Glass – Double Glazing or Triple Glazing and Obscure/Privacy Glass
As you can see there are choices too for the glass in your new windows, fear not as we drill into the choices available.
Double Glazing
28mm sealed units are the norm in today’s market, they are made up of a 4mm pane of glass with a 20mm space and then another 4mm pane of glass.
To be able to achieve an ‘A’ rating the sealed units should be Argon gas filled, fitted with a warm edge spacer bar and have energy reflecting glass on the inner pane. A UValue of 1.1 can be achieved with double glazing.
Triple Glazing
Normally 36mm sealed units made up of 4mm pane of glass, 12mm space, 4mm pane of glass, 12mm space and a 4mm pane of glass.
Triple glazing should also be gas filled and fitted with warm edge spacer bars. UValues of 0.9 can be achieved with triple glazing.
So which is best double glazing or triple glazing? That in itself is a good question and one that is very often asked. The honest answer is both! Double glazing will save energy, triple glazing will save more, but the increased cost over double glazing would not be recouped through energy saving alone.
When noise is added into the equation, say for instance you live on a busy road then double glazing with storm casement windows will keep the noise out but triple glazing will do a better job and when you couple that with the energy saving benefit, it makes sense to use triple glazing. Double glazing can have special sound proof glass fitted and if it was an installation for noise control only, then acoustic double glazing would be better than triple glazing. So if you are looking for a solution to a specific problem then take a look at the following table it might help unravel the facts!
| Reason for Change | Double or Triple Glazing |
|---|---|
| Maintenance free | Double Glazing |
| Energy saving | Double Glazing |
| Energy saving and a bit of a noise problem | Triple Glazing |
| Energy saving and a big noise problem | Double glazing with acoustic glass and storm casement windows |
Obscure Privacy Glass
Used in areas where vanity is important such as toilets, bathrooms and en-suite shower rooms. it can also be used in doors for added privacy along with door side panels. In essence, any area that you want privacy then choose an obscure glass.
There are numerous patterns to choose from and each offers a degree of privacy normally rated one to five. One being the least obscure, Warwick glass for instance is a number 1 rating and depending on where in the sheet of glass a sealed unit is made from it can actually just be near perfectly clear. An obscure glass with a rating of five will give you plenty of privacy.
Conclusion:- Double Glazed replacement windows on the face of it look fairly simple, but now you have more of an understanding of replacement windows and double glazing, in general, click the button below and arrange a free quote. If nothing else, you will get to know how much your dream replacement window project is going to cost.
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